Wednesday, December 10 – Dublin: A sold-out Irish crowd had two thrilling games, including the Ireland Women’s FIH Hockey Pro League debut as winter sun graced the Sport Ireland Campus.
Thrilled by the opportunity to watch the Ireland Women’s Hockey Team play in a major tournament on home soil, over 20 schools from across Ireland filled coaches to make the trip to Dublin to enjoy the top-level hockey on show.
England and Germany men got the day underway at 11:00, with Germany keen to avenge their opening day defeat to Belgium. The Germans made a quick start, opening the scoring inside eight minutes from open play thanks to Matteo Poljaric. England equalised through Nicholas Bandurak, but Germany’s Justus Weigand restored his side’s lead soon after.
Germany grabbed their third in quarter three thanks to Henrik Mertgens, before Elian Mazkour put the icing on the cake for the Germans to make it 4-1.
The main event of the day, the Ireland Women’s FIH Hockey Pro League debut came soon after, with the sidelines bursting with school pupils eager to see their heroes. A huge fight from the Irish team kept Belgium at bay until the second quarter when Ambre Bellenghien broke the deadlock. The Belgians got their second just after half-time, Ballenghien getting her brace with a good deflection.
But Ireland fought back well, spurred on by their 12th player on the sideline. A number of superb efforts before the end of the third quarter almost found the net, but the efforts of the Belgian goalkeeper kept Ireland out.
Ireland finally got their moment, opening their FIH Hockey Pro League account in the final minute of the game. In the last of a series of penalty corners, Ellen Curran did superbly to get on the end of a delivery from Hannah McLoughlin to deflect into the roof of the net.
Off pitch action was just as action packed with a bustling fan village providing a number of food concessions, a giant screen as well as hockey merchandise and even a display of Maserati cars. ‘Hockey Wonderland’ as the organisers dubbed it, is intended to celebrate the spirit of hockey and bring this international tournament to life for all kinds of fans. Access to the fan village is free for all visiting the Sport Ireland Campus until Sunday Dec 14.
Day 3 of the FIH Hockey Pro League in Dublin will see the Ireland Women take on England at 14:00 Irish Time, with Belgium and England on before at 11:30 Irish Time.